Land Reform in the British and Irish Isles Since 1800

Book excerpt: Presents a comparative analysis of land issues and impact of reform across the British and Irish Isles, in Ireland, Scotland and Wales This book interrogates land issues and reform across the British and Irish Isles from c.1800 to 2021, with a particular focus on the period c.1830s-c.1940s. It builds on a rich body of work employing comparative approaches towards the 'Land Question' and the history of landed estates, drawing together fresh and original case studies which contextualise the historiographies of Ireland, England, Scotland and Wales. The contributors draw out similarities but also highlight the distinctive nature of land issues and reform programmes across the four nations of the British and Irish Isles. Key themes and issues discussed in the chapters include estate management and relationships between landowner and tenant; land reform agendas; legislative programmes and their impacts; landowner perspectives; and comparisons and contrasts between the experience of reform in the UK. Shaun Evans is Director of the Institute for the Study of Welsh Estates (ISWE) at Bangor University. Tony Mc Carthy is Visiting Fellow of the School of History, Classics and Archaeology at Newcastle University. Annie Tindley is Professor of British and Irish Rural History at Newcastle University.